[Determination of T lymphocyte subpopulations in malignant lymphoproliferative diseases]

The aim of this work was to investigate T cell subset composition of peripheral blood cells in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, by enumerating T cells positive for receptors for sheep erythrocytes (E-RFC, A-RFC) using the method of E-rosette, and for CD3, CD4 and CD8 antigens, by indirect immunofluorescence technique, using the monoclonal antibodies of the OK series. The study was performed on 57 patients without therapy and 46 healthy persons. The results of enumeration of T cells and their subsets obtained in the stage of the disease when the total leukocyte count was below 20 x 10(9)/L, were markedly decreased in all three types of leukaemias. The most significant decrease of relative count of T cells and their subpopulations was obtained in CLL patients. Analysis of T cells subsets and their ratio in CLL patient in the stage of disease when the total leukocyte count as higher than 20 x 10(9)/L, demonstrated the most pronounced decrease of total T lymphocytes and CD4+ cells. The relative count of the "active" (A-RFC)T cells and CD8+ cells did not change, and was the same as in the patients suffering from CLL with a lower leukocyte count.